Citation

Vasileiou G, Qian S, Iyengar R, Mulder MB, Gass LM, Parks J, Pust GD, Rattan R, Lineen E, Byers P, Yeh DD. Nutr. Clin. Pract. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1002/ncp.10372

PMID

31423668

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Overfeeding and underfeeding are associated with poor clinical outcomes. In the absence of indirect calorimetry (IC), the Society of Critical Care Medicine/ASPEN recommend prescribing 25-30 kcal/kg. The Harris-Benedict equation (HBE) multiplied by a stress factor is commonly applied in critically ill patients. We describe the difference between estimated and actual energy needs in critically injured patients.

METHODS: From March to November 2018, we collected demographics and energy needs determined by continuous IC (started within 4 days) in intubated adults. Ideal or adjusted body weight was used for 25-30 kcal/kg, and HBE was multiplied by a 1.3 stress factor (1.3HBE). Daily requirements up to 14 days, extubation, or death were calculated using all 3 methods and compared with IC.

RESULTS: Fifty-five subjects were included. Median age was 38 [27-58] years, 38 (69%) were male, body mass index was 28 [25-33] kg/m² , and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 17 [14-24] Mechanism of injury was blunt (38, 69%), penetrating (9, 16%), and burn (8, 15%). By day 14, compared with measured energy requirements by IC, the other methods could result in a cumulative 1827-kcal (+7%) surplus (1.3HBE), a 1313-kcal (-5%) deficit (25 kcal/kg), or a 3950-kcal (+14%) surplus (30 kcal/kg) per patient over a median 9 days.

CONCLUSION: In critically injured patients, predictive equations for energy needs do not account for dynamic metabolic changes over time and could result in underfeeding or overfeeding. Adjusting daily prescription based on continuous IC may result in better individualized treatment.

© 2019 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

Language: en

Keywords

critical care; critical illness; energy requirements; indirect calorimetry; trauma